A trade for Cirelli would be a home run swing by the Canadiens.
Three players to keep an eye on at the Lightning prospect showcase
Posted September 12, 2025
It’s that time of year! Time to get overly excited or wildly depressed over the performance of players who won’t suit up for the Tampa Bay Lightning at any point in the season. Yup, it’s
prospect showcase season. The Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators will spend the weekend in a sparsely attended practice rink watching their future stars battle it out.
What was once a chance to see how young players have improved over the summer has become a fairly big deal, and acts as a kick-off for the upcoming season as many teams roll straight into training camp following the action on the weekend. What was once a shaky, one-camera, no-announcers stream is getting the full boar treatment as the games will be broadcast on WXPX-TV and the Lightning’s website.
It’s always fun to watch the youngsters, especially the ones we haven’t seen before take to the ice against actual opponents. While every player is worth watching (these are the types of tournaments we take into consideration when doing things like
ranking prospects) there are a few that we here at Raw Charge are really going to keep an eye on for the next few days.
All three are familiar names with different goals for this season. One is adjusting to a new position, one is looking to earn a spot on the NHL roster, and one is looking for a positive experience before heading back to junior hockey. Despite the differing needs, a positive showcase showing for any or all of them will boost the Lightning’s future.
Max Groshev
One thing we will keep an eye on from Groshev is if he actually passes the puck out of his own zone at some point. Watching his run as a defenseman at the end of the season with the Crunch, his desire to carry the puck out was very noticeable. Not only was it noticeable, it was effective. The kid has wheels and isn’t afraid to cruise from end to end with the puck.
It’s not easy to make the switch from forward to defense (you usually see players go the opposite way), especially at the professional level, but Groshev seemed to take to it naturally last season. This showcase will be a good test for him as he goes up against some skilled forwards.
Should it pan out, he gives the Lightning something that they don’t really have – a mobile defenseman. Victor Hedman can still slide his way down the ice with style and grace, but he is hitting the backside of his career and the speed has gone down a bit. While there are some decent puck-movers in the system, no one skates as naturally as Groshev.
Dylan Duke
At first glance there doesn’t seem to be a spot for a rookie on the Lightning’s offense as camp gets underway. The top line is set. The second line is mostly set, and there are more than enough veterans to fill out the bottom-six. That doesn’t mean one of the youngsters can’t claw their way into the conversation.
Right now, they can roll out a third line with Connor Geekie, Nick Paul, and Gage Goncalves. That leaves Zemgus Girgensons, Yanni Gourde, and Mitchell Chaffee as a pretty decent fourth line. It’s not a line without its flaws. Girgensons in particular could see his spot in jeopardy. He flat out did not look great in his first season with the Bolts, and while he’ll probably get a chance due to having two years left on his contract, the Lightning have cut ties with underperforming veterans in the past.
If there is any player in camp that can claw his way into that spot, it’s Dylan Duke. He is the definition of a hard-nosed, grinding forward, and he’s worked himself into a prominent role everywhere he’s gone, from Michigan to the Crunch. He’s not going to get outworked on the ice, and that type of energy could be a boon for the Lightning.
His style of play would fit in nicely on the fourth line as well. He makes his home in front of the net, can battle along the boards, and is responsible in his own zone. His play would match will with Gourde, another feisty forward that is difficult to play against. Add in an ability to find the back of the net, and he gives that bottom line something that they just didn’t have last year – offense.
Ethan Czata
The Lightning’s top pick from the most recent draft generated a lot of buzz in the development camp, and this tournament will be the first chance to see how he does at 5-on-5 action. He plays physical and is already drawing comparisons to Anthony Cirelli. While he won’t be wearing the Lightning uniform anytime soon, a strong performance at the showcase can improve his stock in the organization.
He’ll be up among his peers in this showcase so he should have a good showing.
Cirelli is projected to be a valuable asset - the trade talks are heating up
The Montreal Canadiens have been undergoing a period of rebuilding for some time.
They pulled off one of the biggest deals of the summer – acquiring offensive defender Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. We proposes a deal that would accelerate the Eastern Conference team’s exit from its rebuilding phase by acquiring Anthony Cirelli from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Canadiens Acquire:
- Anthony Cirelli
Lightning Acquire:
- Patrik Laine
A deal of this magnitude would undoubtedly be a blockbuster. Patrik Laine is an established NHLer who can produce goals and points. Cirelli is a top-six center whose two-way prowess is widely recognized throughout the league. Cirelli would immediately become a vital piece for the Canadiens moving forward.
While others have speculated that a player like Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins would be a helpful piece, Cirelli is a better option.
Montreal Canadiens Need To Move Salary Out
According to PuckPedia, the Canadiens are $4.519 million over the salary cap ceiling. Swapping Laine for Cirelli doesn’t cure what ails their salary cap situation, but it lightens the load.
Laine will make $8.7 million in the 2025-26 season. He is in the final year of his contract, and the Canadiens must start thinking about whether they should retain him in their ranks or not. By executing this proposed swap, they acquire a player who is signed for a long time at a lower cap hit than Laine.
Cirelli is in the third year of an eight-year contract paying him $6.25 million, which is $2.5 million less than Laine’s. This deal would get them closer to the ceiling, but another deal would need to happen to bring them even closer.
Another consideration could be to involve another team to retain salary on Laine’s contract. This would give the Lightning a more affordable contract to acquire, providing them with a greater incentive to make the deal.
Anthony Cirelli’s Surprising Offensive Game
Cirelli displayed another level to his offensive game in 2024-25. In 80 games played, he recorded career highs in goals (27), assists (32), points (59), shorthanded points (7), and time on ice (18:41).
Had Cirelli played for the Canadiens during this past season, he would have had the fourth-most points. The only Canadiens with more than 59 points last year were Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson.
Getting that kind of offensive boost to the top-six forward group is something that the Canadiens should be all over.
